"Double Take Show at Hillside Gallery"

"Alpine Glow", 16" X 20", Oil

"A Break in the Storm", 16" X 20", Oil

In a couple of weeks I am showing with PAC6 at Hillside Fine Art in Claremont, with a show that has a very unusual concept.  Here was the task:  Create 2 sets of paintings.  Two views of the same scene in different weather, season or time of day.  Above are images of one of my set's.  Last  October I traveled with PAC6 to Yosemite and we experienced painting in rain storms,  frozen meadows and in sunny fall glory, all in the span of one week.  My first two views are along the Merced River behind the Yosemite Lodge.  What a difference a day makes!

If you would like to come to the show and see the "double takes", created by PAC6, please come!  The show opens on January 17th and runs until February 28th.  We will all be present for the reception February 6th, from 5pm - 7pm.  Here is the gallery website for more details.

*PAC6 is a group of 6 women artists committed to painting the beauty and grandeur of the American landscape.  The group is: Linda Brown, Debra Holladay, Nita Harper, Marian Fortunati, Sharon Weaver and Laura Wambsgans.

Tuolumne Meadows DEMO #Tuolumnemeadows #landscapepainting #yosemite

I had the opportunity to paint a demonstration painting of Tuolumne Meadows at sunset recently and enjoyed the memories of painting in the meadows a few years ago.  Just as the sun is setting the whole mountain glows for a brief moment and then the show is  over.  I'll keep working on this concept, until I have a successful painting.  

"Half Dome" ©

Half Dome, so easily identified that one of my daughters friends that cruised past my easel today exclaimed, "Hey that's Half Dome!"

Oil on Canvas, 16" X 20"

"Lembert Dome" ©

It's time again to hang my "gone painting" sign on the door.

The last few days I have been packing for my predawn drive tomorrow for the Tetons. I'll be painting in the Teton Valley where Idaho and Wyoming shake hands, for a couple of weeks. My plan is to blog from the motel if I can get a connection. Cottonwoods, streams and mountains under clouds lazily drifting over the land should show up soon on this blog.

Oil on Linen, 20" X 24"

"Sierra Spring" ©

If you go back a few days I painted a small (5" X 7") study of this scene. Some changes have been made and now that it's up on the computer screen I see more to do but it's on it's way to being a painting. It's just a bit to "organized", and landscapes in general never are. Another way to say it is, random is much more appealing.

Oil on Canvas, 20" X 24"

"Sierra Study" ©

As a possible larger painting I tested out this view in a 5" X 7" study. It has potential so I started in on a 18" X 24" of the same view. Here are the thoughts that I hope will be running around in my head. #1 watch the harmony between the most distant mountain and the sky, in this study there is a slight battle. #2 pick out a few of the close rocks to create a focal point. #3 make the sunlit patches in the mid ground interesting and more of a diagonal rather then the V. #4 make sure that the light source is obvious. And of course other things will pop up as usual.

We had to get ready to evacuate today because of a broken gas main, so my painting time was interrupted but I'll continue on this larger canvas for the next couple of days and then post the resolved painting.

Oil on panel, 5" X 7"

"Lembert Dome" ©

Half Dome is probably the most famous dome within Yosemite National Park. Since sitting watching the sun bathing Lembert dome in sunset colors last summer this view of has been whirling it's way around my mind as a painting that I really wanted to attempt. I know that it isn't a common subject as domes are odd, but anyone that has visited the North East area of Yosemite would know this stunning stone formation.

Oil on Linen, 16" X 20"

"Late Afternoon, Mt. Gibbs" ©

The last day of painting in Yosemite I painted this quiet pond, leading your eye to the rosy Mt. Gibbs in the distance. While painting several of the words of wisdom that Charles Waldman gave to the group were dancing in my head. I was trying very hard to implement as much as I could. Here are a few of his recurring comments that would be of value to any artist:

1. Before painting a scene, quiet yourself and tune out the chatter. Decide what the concept is before lifting the brush.

2. Value is more important then Color. Value (light and dark) rules, color happens. Keep the darks quiet!

3. Trust what you put down on the canvas and leave it alone.

Charles suggested many of the books that artists typically read, Hawthorne, Schmid, Payne, Goeschner, Macpherson and Henri. After the workshop I pulled some of these off the shelf and realized it's really great to be able to continue reading about the concepts we learned in the workshop. I would suggest if you would like a boost, dust these off and read them again.

And with this painting, as the light faded against Mt. Gibbs I was sorry to see everyone head home. The time together seemed so short. I am already looking forward to returning next year and maybe I'll be able to paint Mt. Gibbs in the late afternoon once again.

"Dana Fork Rocks" ©

Brushing off the tiny winged bugs and bits of leaves from this painting I was reminded of the lesson that it burned into my brain. Again this is Charles Waldman's teaching in action. Charles stressed using the brush to it's potential. Pushing hard to scrub in the beginning wash of oil, keeping the paint very thin. Then when placing your sunlight into the painting, load the brush with lots of juicy paint and with passion make the stoke of sunlight, never to to touched again. Usually it's temping to go over a brush stroke here and there, softening edges, even noodling. This act weakens the painting. Squinting down at my subject, the rocks, I was able to "see" the brilliant sunlight shape on the granite rock and with one stroke place the light into the painting. I would have never been so bold before watching and listening to Charles during his demo. This painting will remain in my studio to remind me to paint bold, strong and confident.

Oil on Linen panel, 8" X 10"

"Dana Fork Creek" ©

The high sierra region of Yosemite has an edge of danger and mystery woven into it. The weather can flip in minutes, hikers are subject to high altitude sickness, bears are too familiar with people food and hunt for unattended coolers and yet the beauty that beckons from around the next bend is seductive enough to outweigh any of these dangers. This little painting was done at the end of the day, in a closed composition (no sky), to capture the feeling of the granite rocks warming in the sun against the ice cold creek water. The rivers and creeks almost always had a lovely rust color glowing in the sunlight seemingly due to the algae growth on the granite stone underwater. This element of color sets off the stone and trees surrounding the water and provides the complimentary color to the sky that reflects in the dancing light. I would like to take this study and paint a nice large piece of the "Dana Fork Creek".

8" X 10", oil on linen panel